Mining

Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group has been awarded a $680 million construction contract at Inpex's Ichthys liquefied natural gas project.

Shares in Boart Longyear have fallen more than 8 per cent after the drilling company slumped to a full year net loss of $US620 million.

Gold futures have risen, as some investors, citing the recent political turmoil in Ukraine, seek to fireproof their portfolios.

Evolution Mining, Resolute Mining and Ramelius Resources have all reported weaker interim earnings after being hit by the impact of a lower gold price.

Industrial parts and services provider Coventry Group has warned earnings growth will be slim in the second half of the financial year, after lodging a narrow net profit for the six months to Decem

Oil and gas producer Santos has announced a net profit of $516 million in line with last year's result as record sales revenue was offset by lower interest income and higher exploration costs.

Welshpool-based contractor MACA has broken a run of losses in the mining services sector, posting a 44 per cent gain in half-year profit.

Iluka Resources predicts demand for its products will recover over the next two years despite weaker prices causing a 95 per cent drop in its full year profit.

Engineering and construction contractor Calibre Group has reported a 13 per cent fall in half-year net profit, driven by a slump in revenue from its rail and transport business.

The new owner of Shell's downstream assets in Australia has given assurances no jobs are at risk under its $2.9 billion deal to by the multi-national group's stations and Geelong refinery.

Regis Resources has been forced to suspend full operations at its Rosemont and Garden Well open pit gold mines in the Goldfields for at least three months after torrential rain caused extensive flooding.

Sandfire Resources has reported a 58 per cent fall in half-year net profit on the back of almost $60 million in depreciation and amortisation expenses and exploration costs.

Perth-based junior Mutiny Gold has launched plans to raise $4.1 million towards drilling at its Deflector copper-gold project in the Midwest, including a $1.5 million share placement to preferred mining contractor Ausdrill.

Engineering and construction contractor Decmil Group has posted a 10 per cent increase in half-year profit, despite reporting a decline in revenue.

Mining equipment supplier Emeco Holdings has posted a $180 million half-year loss, writing off $158 million in goodwill amid softness in the mining sector.

Litigation funder Bentham IMF and law firm Slater & Gordon will pursue a potential class action against failed engineering contractor Forge Group amid allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct by the company.

Oil prices hit their highest levels so far this year on Wednesday on the back of US winter weather and more turmoil in oil exporters Venezuela, South Sudan and Nigeria.

Embattled miner Atlantic is once again set to obtain extra funding from major shareholder Droxford International, which has proposed a new $32.6 million loan facility.

Northern Star Resources has been recognised for excellence in the resources sector, winning the fourth annual Craig Oliver award at the RIU Explorers Conference.

Royal Dutch Shell has reportedly sold its downstream assets in Australia, including petrol stations and its Geelong refinery.

Mount Gibson Iron has added to the run of strong half-year results from iron ore miners, more than doubling its net profit on the back of record sales. The market, however, marked down its shares after the company confirmed it would not pay interim dividends.

Oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum has recorded a 41.4 per cent fall in full year net profit to $US1.75 billion ($A1.94 billion).

US oil prices have jumped to a four-month high due to the effects of a cold winter in the US and rising concerns about stability in some key oil exporters.

Perth-based gold companies Perseus Mining and Kingsrose Mining have strengthened their balance sheets after completing share placements worth a combined $40 million.

Panoramic Resources' share price rocketed higher today after the company reported drill results that it described as a “potential game changer” for its Savannah nickel project.

Contractor Brierty has posted a 19 per cent half-year profit reduction as increased competition in the company's civil construction division squeezed its margins.

Seven Group Holdings chief executive Don Voelte has stepped down from his role as chairman of oil and gas junior Nexus Energy, saying the position was no longer appropriate as Seven Group eyes opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

Macmahon Holdings has returned to profitability but warned that tough conditions for companies servicing the mining industry are unlikely to pass anytime soon.

Engineering group RCR Tomlinson says its $140 million purchase of infrastructure business Norfolk Group is paying dividends, announcing a 14 per cent increase in half-year net profit.

Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group has posted a record half-year net profit of $87.1 million, with cost-cutting efforts offsetting softer revenue.

Alcoa of Australia has announced it will permanently close its Point Henry aluminium smelter at Geelong in August because it has "no prospect of becoming financially viable" in another blow to the nation's manufacturing sector.

Western Areas is looking to raise $104 million to reduce debt and provide greater financial flexibility after a positive half-year report which saw the nickel miner turn a big loss to a modest $2.7 million net profit.